Premium
Heme binds to and inhibits the DNA‐binding activity of the global regulator FurA from Anabaena sp. PCC 7120
Author(s) -
Hernández José A.,
Peleato M.Luisa,
Fillat Marı́a F.,
Bes M.Teresa
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2004.09.060
Subject(s) - heme , regulator , cofactor , biochemistry , recombinant dna , function (biology) , repressor , biology , anabaena , in vitro , dna , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , bacteria , transcription factor , gene , enzyme , genetics , cyanobacteria
Heme is an iron‐containing cofactor that aside from serving as the active group of essential proteins is a key element in the control of many molecular and cellular processes. In prokaryotes, the family of Fur (ferric uptake regulator) proteins governs processes essential for the survival of microorganims such as the iron homeostasis. We show that purified recombinant FurA from Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 interacts strongly with heme in the micromolar range and this interaction affects the in vitro ability of FurA to bind DNA, inhibiting that process in a concentration‐dependent fashion. Our results provide the first evidence of the possible involvement of heme in the regulatory function of cyanobacterial Fur.